Coronavirus in the US: “Stay-at-Home” orders for all 50 states, excluding 8 states.
Updated: 10:25 am EDT Apr. 6, 2020.
As the US grapples with the rapid spread of the “silent enemy” the coronavirus has the health care system at its tipping point. A growing number of states are issuing stay-at-home orders.
Eight US governors have decided against issuing statewide directives urging their residents to stay at home as the outbreak of the coronavirus escalates and spreads across the country.
Some state officials say the specific circumstances of their state doesn’t merit such a mandate, others have advocated social responsibility instead, and yet others have expressed a preference for following the advice of other state officials.
These are the states that have implemented stay-at-home orders.
President Donald Trump once again on declined to give rules in all corners of the country that offer guidance as to how citizens should protect themselves and their families from coronavirus.
“We have a thing called the Constitution, which I cherish”, Trump said at his daily news briefing, praising the decision of the governors. “Now in some cases we’ll supersede … it depends on the individual state that you’re talking about. … If I saw something wrong, if I saw a massive outbreak, of which there’s not, I would come down very hard.”
Alabama
On April 3, Gov. Kay Ivey issued an order, effective for the next day at 5 p.m.
The order says: “Every person is ordered to stay at his or her place of residence except as necessary to perform any of the following ‘essential activities.’”
In the list of exempted activities: religious services - no more than 10 people can gather in a group.
Alaska
On March 28, Alaska ordered its residents to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. Limited to outdoor activities as long as social distancing of 6 feet from each person and to avoid travel between communities.
Arizona
The governor has ordered residents to stay at home excluding essential businesses, effective March 31 at 5 p.m.
Limited to outdoor activities as long as social distancing of 6 feet from each person and to avoid travel between communities.
California
On March 19, Gov. Gavin Newsom became the first governor to set mandatory stay-at-home restrictions to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The governor has ordered its residents to stay at home and to practice social distancing. Nonessential services such as dine-in restaurants, bars, gyms and convention centers have been shut down.
Essential services, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, food banks, convenience stores and delivery restaurants, have remained open. Also banks, local government offices that provide services and law enforcement agencies.
Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis declared a stay-at-home order, effective March 26 and extending through at least April 11. Coloradans must stay at home unless they need to leave for necessary business and to practice social distancing.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s “Stay safe, stay at home” policy effective on March 23 at 8 p.m.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive ordered all nonessential businesses and nonprofit entities to close.
The order excludes any essential business or entity providing essential services such as health care, food service, law enforcement and similar critical services, according to a news release.
Nonessential public gatherings of any size should be canceled, and if residents must leave their home, they should not travel in groups and practice social distancing — to keep at least 6 feet away from each other.
Delaware
Gov. John Carney issued a statewide stay-at-home order effective March 24.
The order advises residents to stay at home whenever possible and close all nonessential business.
Delaware residents may leave their home for essential activities, such as getting groceries, seeing a doctor and engaging in “other activities essential to their health, and the health and well-being of their family members.
District of Columbia
Mayor Muriel Bowser has issued a stay-at home order that directs residents to stay at home except for essential activities, such as grocery shopping or obtaining medical care.
Bowser said, “Any individual who willfully violates the order may be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.”
Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a “Safer at Home” order effective April 3. It limits movement outside homes to providing or getting essential services or carrying out essential activities. That also applies to interaction with other people outside of residents’ homes. The order is in effect until April 30.
Religious services conducted in churches, synagogues and houses of worship are counted as “essential business” and are exempt from the order.
DeSantis also issued an executive order mandating a 14-day self-quarantine or isolation period for travelers arriving from areas experiencing substantial community spread of coronavirus.
Georgia
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced a statewide shelter-in-place order effective April 3 and runs until April 13.
Public schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year and issued a 14-day stay-at-home order on March 23.
Hawaii
Gov. David Ige issued a “stay at home” order for Hawaii residents. The order effective March 25 and will last through at least April 30.
Exceptions to the order are being made for essential services, medical care and grocery shopping.
Idaho
On March 25, Gov. Brad Little issued a stay-at-home order effective immediately and extends for at least 21 days.
Idaho residents can still leave home to obtain essential services, but the order closes all nonessential businesses, and restaurants can provide only delivery or takeout options.
Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a stay-at-home order for the entire state, effective March 21 and extends through at least April 30.
Residents can go to grocery stores, pharmacies, medical offices, hospitals and gas stations. They can still go running or hiking and walk their dogs.
Indiana
Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an order effective March 24 and through April 6.
Essential employees, including health care workers, grocery and transit workers, among others, can leave their home. Indiana residents can leave their home to exercise.
The governor announced that the Indiana National Guard is not assisting with enforcing the order, but it is assisting in the distribution of hospital supplies the state receives.
Kansas
Gov. Laura Kelly issued a general stay-at-home order effective March 30 at 12:01 a.m.
The order allows for several exemptions, including traveling to essential work, and getting food, medicine and medical care, and other household necessities.
Outdoor activity is allowed, provided people maintain a distance of 6 feet from one another, and gatherings are limited to 10 people.
The measure initially was scheduled to be in place until at least April 19.
Kentucky
Kentucky has issued a “Healthy at Home” order encouraging residents effective March 26 to stay at home and directing only life-sustaining businesses to remain open starting.
Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order on March 29 banning residents’ travel to other states, except for job-required and health care-related travel, need-based trips for those who live on the border, and in cases of court orders. Those who return to Kentucky from out of state must to quarantine for 14 days.
Louisiana
After announcing that Louisiana has the fastest growth rate of coronavirus cases in the world, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a stay-at-home order to help slow the coronavirus spread.
The order effective March 23, and will extend it through April 30.
State buildings and other essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies and doctors’ offices will remain open, nonessential businesses were ordered to close.
Restaurants remain open for drive-thru, delivery and takeout options only.
Maine
Maine Gov. Janet Mills issued an order requiring people to stay at home, unless for an essential job or an essential personal reason.
The order effective April 2 and scheduled to last through April 30.
Maryland
Gov. Larry Hogan announced a statewide stay-at-home order after Maryland after reported 1,400 coronavirus cases.
The order, effective March 30 at 8 p.m., restricts residents from leaving their homes except to visit grocery stores and pharmacies, to seek medical attention or to exercise and to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people.
Massachusetts
Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide essential services to close their physical workplaces, but these businesses are encouraged to continue their operations remotely.
The order, effective March 24 through May 4, limits gatherings to 10 people in confined spaces, but does not prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people in an outdoor space, such as a park or athletic field.
Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered Michigan residents to stay at home unless they are critical workers. The order effective March 24 and was to last for at least the next three weeks.
Gathering, public and private, of any number of people are banned. However, the order does not apply to single households where people may already live together.
Minnesota
Gov. Tim Walz ordered Minnesota’s 5.6 million residents to shelter in place effective 11:59 p.m. on March 27 until April 10.
Residents can still leave their homes for groceries and exercise.
Mississippi
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a shelter-in-place order effective April 3 at 5 p.m. Residents are to leave their homes only for essential activities, such as caring for someone in the vulnerable population, getting food or necessary supplies, and working for an essential business.
People are ordered to practice social distancing and to keep a 6-foot distance from others and avoid groups of 10 or more. Nonessential gatherings of more than 10 people are not allowed.
Missouri
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson issued a statewide “Stay Home Missouri” order effective 12:01 a.m. on April 6 until 11:59 p.m. on April 24.
Missouri residents must avoid leaving their homes or places of residence unless necessary. The order does not prohibit people from going out for essential service such as grocery stores, gas stations, banks or outdoor recreation, as long as precautions are taken and social distancing requirements are met.
People are advised to avoid eating or drinking at restaurants or bars, but takeout and delivery are allowed.
Montana
Gov. Steve Bullock has ordered all residents to stay at home except for essential work and limited outdoor activities. The order effective March 28.
Nevada
Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a “stay at home” directive, effective at midnight April 1.
It orders people to stay at home, with exceptions such as leaving for certain essential jobs or obtaining services from essential business, including grocery stores.
The order of non-essential businesses, gaming operations and schools closed — through at least April 30.
Gatherings of 10 people or more are banned.
New Hampshire
Gov. Chris Sununu issued a stay-at-home order effective March 27 and last until May 4. Nonessential businesses, including all state beaches along the coast, were ordered to close by the end of the day March 27.
The order advises residents to stay at home and leave only for essentials.
New Jersey
A stay-at-home order has been in effect since March 21. The order prohibits all gatherings.
The executive order requires all retail businesses to close except for essential businesses, including pharmacies and medical marijuana dispensaries, grocery stores, gas stations, pet stores, laundromats, banks, liquor stores and mail and delivery stores.
New Mexico
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a “statewide stay-at-home instruction” order effective March 24.
All businesses except those deemed essential to public health, safety and well-being were ordered to close.
New York
Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all workers in nonessential businesses to stay at home.
The executive order effective March 22, ordered mandatory closures and civil fines will be issued to businesses that don’t comply.
Civil fines, however, will not be issued for individuals who violate the policy, the governor said. Nonessential gatherings are restricted, and individuals are being asked to limit outdoor recreational activities to non-contact activities.
For essential workers who must go out in public, Cuomo encouraged social distancing. Grocery stores, food delivery service and public transportation are still operational.
North Carolina
Gov. Roy Cooper has issued a stay-at-home order for North Carolina effective March 30 at 5 p.m.
Residents may leave their home for essential activities, but if they need to go outside, they must maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from other people, the order states. All nonessential businesses must close. The order limits gatherings to 10 people or less.
Ohio
On March 22, Gov. Mike DeWine announced he was issuing a statewide stay-at-home order.
The order effective March 23 and was to remain in place until at least April 6.
Essential businesses and restaurants for takeout will be allowed to stay open. The governor encouraged Ohioans to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others if they need to go outside.
Oklahoma
Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued a statewide “Safer at Home” order for adults over the age of 65 and other vulnerable residents until April 30.
All nonessential businesses will remain closed during this time, including gyms, barbers, tattoo and massage parlors.
Oregon
On March 23, Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order telling Oregon residents to stay home except for essential needs.
The order, effective immediately, prohibits all nonessential social and recreational gatherings, regardless of size.
The order closes retail businesses in which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, such as barber shops, arcades, gyms and theaters. Businesses that are not closed by the order must implement social distancing policies in order to remain open.
Failure to follow the new order could be punished as a misdemeanor or shut down.
Pennsylvania
Gov. Tim Wolf issued stay-at-home orders on all 67 Pennsylvania counties, effective April 1 at 8 p.m. until April 30.
Residents may only leave their homes to perform essential activities and while engaging in outdoor activity such as walking or running is allowed, people must maintain social distancing.
Rhode Island
Gov. Gina Raimondo on March 28 issued a general stay-at-home order, scheduled to last until April 13.
Residents to stay at home unless they’re getting food, medicine, gas or going to work.
Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited under this order.
All all “non-critical retail businesses,” effective March 30. The allowed businesses include food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, auto repair stores, banks and firearms stores, to name just a few. Restaurants can operate for pickup and delivery.
A person traveling from any other state “for a non-work-related purpose” must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days, though health care and public safety workers are exempt. Rhode Island residents who must travel to another state for work can do so but must self-quarantine at home in Rhode Island while not working.
A separate order says anyone entering Rhode Island from New York must self-quarantine for 14 days, citing the high number of coronavirus cases in New York. It runs from March 26 to April 26. Law enforcement may pull over people with New York license plates to record their contact information and inform them of the self-quarantine order.
Tennessee
Gov. Bill Lee announced April 2 he was issuing an order because data showed Tennesseans were moving around too much.
The order to require that people only leave their homes for essential activities, effective until April 14.
Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all Texans to stay home beginning at 12:01 a.m. on April 2 through the month’s end.
Residents must stay home unless providing essential services or doing essential things like going to the grocery store.
Abbott also ordered 14-day quarantines for people flying to Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, California, Louisiana, Miami, Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta or motorists driving from Louisiana.
Virginia
Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order effective March 30. Everyone must stay at home unless leaving to get food, supplies, going to work, seeking medical care or going outside to get exercise.
Northam said his order is partially in response to seeing beaches in his state “literally packed” over the weekend. Beaches are now closed except to those exercising or fishing.
Vermont
Gov. Phil Scott issued a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order which directs all in-person operations and nonessential businesses to close from March 25 until at least April 15.
Residents should leave the house only for reasons that are critical to health and safety.
Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee issued a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order March 23, requiring Washington residents to stay at home for the next two weeks. The order effective immediately. Exceptions are made for critical jobs and grocery shopping.
The order does not prohibit people from going outside for a walk, Inslee says, but people must keep 6 feet away from each other.
The order includes a ban on all gatherings and “the closure of many businesses.” Inslee said the only businesses that are allowed to stay in operation for the next two weeks are those that are “essential to the healthy functioning of our community or are able to let employees work remotely from home.” Those essential positions include medical professionals and pharmacists.
West Virginia
Gov. Jim Justice issued a stay-at-home order effective March 24.
Residents are to only leave home for essential needs. Taking a walk, riding a bike and being out in nature for exercise is allowed, but people should stay at least 6 feet away from others.
All nonessential businesses should close, and restaurants should only offer takeout, delivery or drive-thru.
Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers issued a “Safer at Home” order that prohibits all nonessential travel. The order effective March 25 and remains until April 24 or until a superseding order is issued.
Residents should leave the house for essential tasks such as visiting the doctor, caring for family members in another household or getting groceries, but people should stay at home as much as possible.
Essential businesses allowed to remain operating include banks, pharmacies, grocery stores and gas stations.
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Stay healthy — and safe!
